New York, NY – Reacting to outrage over a perceived ticket blitz, the City Council will vote Monday to ease several parking restrictions, setting up a showdown with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
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“This is a message to the mayor that we won’t tolerate over-aggressive traffic agents,” said Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Astoria).
One measure would create a five-minute grace period for alternate side of the street parking and muni meters, while another would expand the number of clergy members who qualify for parking permits.
Bloomberg is expected to veto both bills, though council sources say there are plenty of votes to override him.
Two other bills would require the city to give written notification before changing parking rules and wait 30 days before changing meter rates. Bloomberg will likely sign those into law.
Councilman Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn), who sponsored the grace period bill, said 10 percent of alternate side tickets – about 300,000 annually – are given within five minutes of the cut-off, which he said shows the city is using parking laws simply to raise revenue.“That’s a tax, not a ticket,” he said. “For somebody who’s eking out a living and gets a ticket for $100, you’re literally taking away a day’s pay.”
He said traffic agents were once told to give a five-minute grace period but that ended under Bloomberg.
Earlier this year, the mayor said such a law would be a slippery slope and could lead to the city having “absolutely no ability to collect parking meter payments” or clean the streets.
Vallone said traffic agents’ behavior forced the council’s hand.
“These bills are an attempt to legislate common sense and discretion,” he said.
Vallone’s office is also writing a bill that would protect drivers from double-parking tickets if they are waiting to pull into a spot that someone else is leaving – a problem he has heard about from constituents.
Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), chair of the Transportation Committee, said the clergy bill will even the playing field between large and small institutions by allowing religious leaders to get permits for their own cars – as opposed to only cars owned by the house of worship – and including clergy members who are part-time.
“That legislation was a result of numerous complaints from churches leaders and congregations,” he said.
What does this money guzzling mayor want from us? milking and milking and never happy!
about time someone drums common sense Into the head of this mayor
Add to this what they anounced over the news today that the City is about to hire 1000’s of new agents coming new year. We can simply move out of this City!!!
Where’s the outcry of our elected council members. This is to little to late.
thompson could have easely won if he would campaigned to lower parking tickets
A perfect example of how the Mayor’s wealth puts him out of touch with the general public. What’s a $100+ ticket for a man worth billions. He can’t appreciate how upsetting it is to see hours of work wiped away by one ticket because of aggressive ticketing.
Had there been a more competent challenger to Bloomberg in the past election, I would have voted against him based on this issue alone.
For the first time am I proud of our elected officialls
The parking tickets provide needed income for the city and also keep people from not moving their car for street cleaning. Put your car in a garage if you don’t like getting ticketed or otherwise just follow the rules.
Isent it ironic , the same laws he abused to get a third term, are now being used against him.
Finally the time has come I urge everyone to write to their council member to support the parking ticket ease bill you would be surprised how much it could help Simply go to New York city council and find your council member
Finaly finaly!!!!
Has anyone tried going from Canal St to Holland Tunnel entrance?? At the intersection there are literally 4 or 5 agents ready to pounce at anyone blocking the intersection after the lights change. The problem is it is virtually impossible to get accross the intersection because of the traffic volume without running the risk of getting caught in the middle. Totally unfair. These agents should rather be helping the motorists than ticketing them. Completely outrageous!!
Simcha Felder to the rescue.
Maybe they should add to the bill that the Mayor can’t hire more ticket writers. They should force the Mayor to hire more traffic agents to help with the traffic and not for tickets.
How about on E 10St and Ave N? (among others) At the height of rush hour, there are 2-3 of them hiding behind a bush, they jump out and ticket if your car is sticking out (a drop) into the crosswalk, as you try to cross the interesection!!!
These bills are really stupid ideas. If there’s one thing this city needs, is MORE aggressive ticketing of vehicular criminals.
Next on the agenda should be the abuse by the Buildings Department and ECB. These agencies need to be reigned in. The senseless STOP WORK ORDERS and insane fines, only adds to the bad economy we live in. Trying to kill the lives of a builder or contractor, plus all the other trades affected by the senseless actions adopted by these agencies, have to stop. Driving us all to the poorhouse.